Projects per year
Personal profile
Personal Statement
I am a Senior Lecturer (equivalent to Associate Professor) in the Work, Employment and Organisation department, mostly on our tourism and hospitality courses. Tourism is one of my key research interests which I have approached from the theoretical frameworks of human geography, development studies, tourism management and innovation studies.
Before joining the Strathclyde Business School, I was a Senior Research Specialist in the Economic Planning and Development unit at the Human Sciences Research Council in Cape Town where I worked on various projects with policy impact. I also have experience as a tourism and business studies lecturer and as a consultancy researcher.
I am affiliated as an associate researcher with the School of Tourism and Hospitality at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, where I held a post-doc position and also completed my PhD.
Expertise & Capabilities
I understand the research process well and have been involved at all of its stages from conceptualization and proposal writing to research design, supervision; and co-supervision of various projects; collaboration on large national projects/ studies; data collection (primary and secondary), data analysis, synthesis and interpretation; report writing and dissemination.
Futher areas of expertise are:
- Mixed method research
- Project management
- Policy and/ strategy formulation
- National surveys
- Indicator development
Research Interests
My research interests include social innovation; innovation measurement; tourism innovation; tourism sustainability; tourism livelihoods, employment and workplace issues; creative industries - employment and spatial perspectives.
Teaching Interests
Tourism and business studies lecturing and supervision
Academic / Professional qualifications
PhD Geography, University of Johannesburg, 2015
Masters in Development Studies, University of the Free State, 2008
Post-graduate Certificate in Education, University of Pretoria, 2002
B.Com Tourism Management, University of Pretoria, 2000
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Science, Innovation and networking in tourism for the competitiveness of the Western Cape regional tourism economy, University of Johannesburg
Award Date: 10 Jun 2015
Master of Social Science, Tourism development in small towns the case of Parys, Free State, University of the Free State
Award Date: 25 Apr 2008
Bachelor of Commerce, Tourism Management, University of Pretoria
Award Date: 30 Mar 2001
External positions
Senior Research Associate, University of Johannesburg
Keywords
- Work experience
- Working conditions
- Creativity
- Sustainability
- Hospitality and tourism
- Social innovation
- Human dignity
- Human Geography
- Human Rights
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Unpacking the tourism-transport nexus in sustainability transitions
Niewiadomski, P. (Principal Investigator), Beecroft, M. (Co-investigator), Booyens, I. (Co-investigator) & Ferguson, N. (Principal Investigator)
1/10/25 → 30/09/26
Project: Research
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Fair Hospitality Work: Engagement with Employers
Booyens, I. (Principal Investigator) & Hadjisolomou, T. (Principal Investigator)
1/01/24 → 31/12/24
Project: Internally funded project
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The mobilities of visual artists: the case of South Africa
Hracs, B. J., Booyens, I., Comunian, R. & Brydges, T., Sept 2025, In: Environment and Planning A. 57, 6, p. 794-809 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Downloads (Pure) -
Reframing creativity in the city: on the emergence of contemporary township creativity
Booyens, I., 31 Dec 2025, In: Regional Studies. 59, 1, p. 1-15 15 p., 2495797.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)4 Downloads (Pure)
Prizes
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Best student in course work: Masters in Development Studies
Booyens, I. (Recipient), 2008
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Activities
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Assessing Fair Hospitality Work: Scotland in a Multi-Country Comparative Perspective
Hadjisolomou, T. (Speaker), Booyens, I. (Contributor), Nickson, D. (Contributor), Cunningham, T. (Contributor) & Baum, T. (Speaker)
1 May 2025Activity: Talk or Presentation › Invited talk
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The Employment Experiences of South African Visual Artists
Booyens, I. (Speaker)
2 Apr 2025Activity: Talk or Presentation › Invited talk